CUC for nano barebottom (baby clownfish)

[Castaway6]

hey all, just wondering what you would suggest for a small crew in my 10 gallon tank. Just rocks and mechanical. No sand. 2 baby/teen clownfish.
Thinking maybe just 2 trochus snails.. Any shrimp possibilities? Wouldn't mind another piece to look at but don't want to risk my babies being a nice snack.

TIA

 

[footgal]

Stomatella snails are great and pose no threat to anything, they are the only snails I use and I have 3 bb tanks . I doubt the regular small hermits would do any damage to your babies. I would use 2 small hermits and maybe 5-10 stomatella. Regular snails work too. I’d use 3 of any type of algae eating snail (my go to are astrea/margarita) and add more if you feel like algae is still a problem. Better to start under cuc and add more rather than have half your cuc starve

 

[splitting_lanes]

Yeah, I’d second the start small suggestion. Even one large snail can keep 10g clean

 

[Castaway6]

I agree with just 1 or 2 snails, just not sure which ones dont prefer a sandbed. I'm unfamiliar with stomatella snails, but its between those, troch, or astrea as far as bb I assume.
It's a simple tank so I don't need anything crazy, not even hair algae problems. Just whatever they dont eat, and whatever I cant wipe off the glass/bottom. I don't usually prefer hermits, every tank I have ends up with 1 hermit and 1 large snail in the end..though that may be the perfect situation here. Hmm
Is a cleaner shrimp or fire etc an option as far as giving a little something to look at?

 

[footgal]

I agree with just 1 or 2 snails, just not sure which ones dont prefer a sandbed. I'm unfamiliar with stomatella snails, but its between those, troch, or astrea as far as bb I assume.
It's a simple tank so I don't need anything crazy, not even hair algae problems. Just whatever they dont eat, and whatever I cant wipe off the glass/bottom. I don't usually prefer hermits, every tank I have ends up with 1 hermit and 1 large snail in the end..though that may be the perfect situation here. Hmm
Is a cleaner shrimp or fire etc an option as far as giving a little something to look at?

I had a fire shrimp with my very small clowns (>1”) but it was a 20 gallon tank with lots of rock. Everybody has been very happy so far

 

[footgal]

Stomatella snail they often reproduce in my tank almost no shell so they canT get stuck on their back and can reach smaller crevices. I see them all over my glass at night.

 

[Castaway6]

I'll start with a couple snails and maybe add the shrimp in some time.. since there's more than 2 survivors this coming round guess it depends on if there is one available at the lfs or not..haha.
I appreciate the feedback

 

[Castaway6]

Stomatella snail they often reproduce in my tank almost no shell so they canT get stuck on their back and can reach smaller crevices. I see them all over my glass at night. View attachment 1762862View attachment 1762863

Interesting! Can I purchase them like a normal cuc?

 

[footgal]

Interesting! Can I purchase them like a normal cuc?

I’ve never seen them for sale, I’d be happy to ship you a few though!

 

[Castaway6]

Lots of crevises and whatnot in the rockwork. Its fun setting up a baby reef
Posted pic twice on accident

 

[Castaway6]

I’ve never seen them for sale, I’d be happy to ship you a few though!

Would definitely appreciate this. Pm me to discuss! do they reproduce quickly? I wouldnt mind adding them to other tanks in the future

 

[footgal]

Would definitely appreciate this. Pm me to discuss! do they reproduce quickly? I wouldnt mind adding them to other tanks in the future

Pm’ed

 

[Fishwife]

I have a barebottom Pico tank (5 gal) I have a Turbo, cerith and recently a small pincushion urchin for algae control. I have several sexy shrimp that are fun to watch, great for a nano tank.

 

[Castaway6]

I have a 4 gallon with just rock flower nems and sexy shrimp. I would get more if they weren't so expensive..
Don't those urchins get a little large?

 

[scdigby]

I’ve never seen them for sale

i don't remember ever seeing them for sale either. i think the reason for this is that when everyone used to sell live rock stomatellas were very common hitchhikers. We used to call them free cuc. lol

 

[TJDSEKULA]

I have dwarf ceriths in my 2g

 

[footgal]

I’m surprised that nobody’s aquaculturing these and selling them!! They breed so easily in my tank where I’m not even trying